Lore:Lion Guard

The Lion Guard was a Breton knightly order that was initially an autonomous organization, in that they pledged loyalty to all Bretons but were governed by no ruler. They sought to administer justice and impose peace in High Rock, but they adjusted their role to serve as at-need guardians. They were available for any of High Rock's kings to call upon when their military needed extra skilled fighters. However, High King Emeric later adopted them as his own elite knightly order during the time of the first Daggerfall Covenant, and utilized them during Ranser's War. The Lion Guard then pledged its allegiance to the subsequent Greater Daggerfall Covenant, and served as the elite and personal guardians of the Covenant's rulers. Inspired by the Lion Guard, Emeric adopted the lion as his personal crest and it became the martial symbol of the Daggerfall Covenant.

The Lion Guard did not discriminate by a person's past, station, or race. Aspiring recruits must show loyalty, courage, strength of character, and valor in battle in the face of adversity. Nobility and wealth were not qualifiers for promotion. Instead, its members could only rise through the ranks by proving their bravery and loyalty. These standards were in place to preserve the order's reputation as steadfast protectors of the highest martial skill. Their standards were strict, and knights who violated these standards were promptly removed from the order's ranks.

The Lion Guard were known to utilize Bretonic-styled armor and weapons, with the armor of lower ranked knights having blue-black accents, and elite knights using armor with whitened steel and golden accents. They also used the lion emblazoned equipment associated with the Daggerfall Covenant.

History

Before they were adopted by Emeric, the Lion Guard held loyalty to the Breton people, not to crowns. During their time under Emeric's leadership, they defended against the army of King Ranser, preventing Wayrest from being razed. Circa 2E 560, Arabelle Davaux rose through Lion Guard's ranks and became a captain. She was possibly the inspiration for fictional Investigator Vale character, as well as a potential lover of Emeric predominantly during her time in his service.

The Lion Guard was extremely popular during the Daggerfall Covenant's lifespan. Though some lords resented their lack of control over the order, they called upon the Lion Guard consistently when they were in need. Most of the Lion Guard approved when the Daggerfall Covenant brought the regions of High Rock into an alliance together, feeling it succeeded in the knights' original mission to reunify the Breton people. The Lord General of the Lion Guard subsequently pledged fealty to the Daggerfall Covenant.

During the Three Banners War

Lion Guard Captain Armor

The Planemeld saw the Dark Anchors pulling Nirn into Coldharbour. The Lion Guard forbade the Fighters Guild Stormhaven chapter from seeking out the Worm Cultists responsible, with the guild speculating that they wanted the glory for themselves.

Faolchu and the Bloodroot Cult

Circa 2E 582, the Bloodthorn Cult began their conquest of Glenumbra, and resurrected the infamous werewolf Faolchu to aid their plans. The Captain of Camlorn's City Guard, Darien Gautier, led a defense against the attack and managed a holdout in his city's inn with survivors. Camlorn was taken over by Faolchu and his pack while the royal family was forced to flee with refugees to nearby Aldcroft. In time, the Lion Guard prepared to retaliate and built their siege camp south of the city's gate but when Faolchu's forces took it over, it split the army in half by each side of the camp. General Gautier enlisted the help of an Agent of the Covenant and managed to reunite with General Mendin's forces while retaking the camp. With one more push into the gate's courtyard, the Lion Guard had entered the city.

General Gautier sent the Agent to locate his son, Darien and help him in the relief effort. They found him in the inn in Camlorn's western district and with the help of a local alchemist, Alinon, they managed to cure citizens of lycanthropy and round up weapons for the city's defense. The invading force had greatly dwindled and all that was left was Faolchu, who was held up in the ruined Camlorn Keep. In a final battle, the werewolf general was defeated and Camlorn was liberated. As their plans fell apart, the Bloodthorn Cult took hold in Cath Bedraud while the Lion Guard prepared for a final attack in King's Guard.

The Lion Guard and the Knights of the Dragon advanced onto Cath Bedraud. The cult's leader, a Reachmen necromancer Angof the Gravesinger sealed himself deep in the inner sanctum. The knight, Sir Thomas Kinlin had his spirit controlled by Angof, to protect one of the shards that led to Angof. An Agent of the Daggerfall Covenant recovered all three shard-keys and confronted Angof. The necromancer was stricken down and Cath Bedraud was freed from his wicked magic.

Failed Invasion of the Rift

The Lion's Den

In a remote canyon known as Steelhead Cleft, an Ebonheart Pact scouting party discovered a hidden Lion Guard base. Covenant forces had remained hidden in the mountains for months prior and were preparing for a full invasion.

Ebonheart Pact scouts identified three key Lion Guard commanders within the base and sent an agent to assassinate them, hoping to serve as a distraction and call for reinforcements. The commanders were successfully assassinated and the camp was thrown into chaos. Pact reinforcements arrived shortly after were able to surround the valley and neutralize the Covenant threat.

Steelhead Cleft supposedly gained the name Lion's Den thanks to this Lion Guard invasion, though a contradicting story claims it due to it being a historical breeding ground for local mountain lions,

Seventh Legion Invasion of Bangkorai

Bangkorai Garrison

After Septima Tharn's plot to take Evermore was foiled, King Emeric and the Lion Guard came to Bangkorai to aid Queen Arzhela in reconquering the Bangkorai Garrison.

The Imperials had been preparing for something significant involving Daedra deep within the garrison's crypts for several weeks. Emeric and his men were greatly outnumbered, so they sent a small detachment into a sewer entrance unbeknownst to the Imperial forces in order to infiltrate the garrison and open the main gate. Meanwhile Queen Arzhela, King Emeric and the Lion Guard assaulted the main gate to create distraction.

Emeric's detachment was successful in infiltrating the sewers, storming the barracks and killing the garrison's commander. It was then discovered the Septima Tharn was in the service of Molag Bal and her legion was performing a dark ritual in the royal crypt. Emeric's forces cleansed the royal crypt of Daedra, but Imperial Battlemage Papus was able to complete his dark ritual and summoned a Dark Anchor directly above the garrison. Emeric's forces and the Knights of Saint Pelin clashed with Xivilai Moath. Although many lives were lost, they were able to destroy the Dark Anchor and reclaim the garrison.

With crushing defeats at Hallin's Stand and the Bangkorai Garrison, Septima Tharn and the Seventh Legion retreated south to make their last stand at the ancient temple known as the Hall of Heroes. Emeric arrived at the temple with his forces and was preparing to attack when Septima suddenly appeared. She summoned a dark cloud of magic which engulfed the Lion Guard and killed them, then took the incapacitated King Emeric captive.

King Emeric was killed by Septima, but his soul was retrieved by the Vestige from the Far Shores and used to resurrect him. With the Seventh Legion defeated and Septima Tharn dead, Bangkorai was liberated from Imperial control.

Stirk

At the behest of the Fighters and Mages Guilds, the Lion Guard subsequently accompanied the resurrected Emeric to the island of Stirk to discuss a possible invasion of Coldharbour in response to Molag Bal's attempted Planemeld. Before an agreement could be reached between Emeric, Ayreen, and Jorunn, Molag Bal sent Daedra to the island to kill the alliance leaders. The attackers were repelled, and the leaders quickly gave their consent for an invasion, having seen the Prince's influence firsthand. A force was then assembled from the ranks of the two guilds, and a portal to Coldharbour was opened on the island.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Elder Scrolls Online and Legends articles.

Books

• Traditions of the Lion Guard — Precepts of High King Emeric's knightly order
• The Lion Guard Wants You! — A recruitment pamphlet to join the Lion Guard

Gallery

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  Lion Guard Squad

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  A member of the Lion Guard (ESO)

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  Arabelle Davaux, retired Lion Guard Captain (ESO)

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  Lion Guard Armaments (Legends)

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  Lion Guard-inspired Symbology of the Daggerfall Covenant